SCOUTING THE FALCONS

Last meeting

Steelers beat Falcons, 19-16, on Dec. 4, 2022 in Atlanta

Key matchup

Atlanta edge rusher Matthew Judon vs. Steelers offensive tackles. Judon, acquired via trade three weeks ago, is a nine-year NFL veteran with 66½ career sacks. Judon has four sacks, 11 QB hits and two forced fumbles in 10 career games against the Steelers while playing for New England and Baltimore.

Key injuries

Falcons WR Rondale Moore is on injured reserve. The Steelers have interior offensive lineman Nate Herbig (shoulder) on injured reserve and will be without starting left guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral). But a host of players were limited late during the preseason: RB Jaylen Warren (hamstring), CB Joey Porter Jr. (undisclosed), OLB Alex Highsmith (groin), ILB Payton Wilson (head), OT Troy Fautanu (knee) and WR Roman Wilson (ankle).

Series record

Steelers lead 15-2-1

Series notes

The Steelers have won the past four meetings; Atlanta’s most recent victory in the series was 41-38 in overtime on Oct. 22, 2006. … The Steelers have won eight of 10 meetings in Atlanta. This is the second game between the teams at 7-year-old Mercedes-Benz Stadium. … Seven of the past eight Steelers-Falcons games have been decided by one possession, including one tie and three that went to overtime. … The Steelers have won eight of their past nine against NFC South opponents, including sweeping the division during 2022.

Notable

The Falcons beat Carolina, 24-10, in last season’s opener in Atlanta, snapping a five-game losing streak in Week 1. … The Steelers, conversely, lost 30-7 to San Francisco on Sept. 10, 2023 — only their second loss in a season opener over the past eight years. Mike Tomlin is 10-6-1 in Week 1 as a head coach. … Kirk Cousins, signed to a four-year, $180 million contract in March, will make his Falcons debut. Like the Steelers, Atlanta has a fourth different starting quarterback in four years for a season opener: Matt Ryan (2021), Marcus Mariota (2022), Desmond Ridder (2023). The Steelers had Ben Roethlisberger in 2021, Mitch Trubisky the next year and Kenny Pickett last season. … Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was the Falcons head coach the past three years, going 7-10 all three seasons.

Fantasy tip

Though Cousins did not play in the final nine weeks of last season while with Minnesota, during the eight weeks he played, Cousins led the league in passing touchdowns (18), touchdown passes or 50 or more yards (three) and 300-yard passing games (four), in addition to ranking second over that time span in passing yards (2,231).

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